The U. S.
House of Representatives passed a bipartisan children's online safety package on Monday with a 267-117 vote.
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The legislation introduces strict safety measures for digital platforms, though it faces concerns regarding user privacy and freedom of expression.
Key Provisions of the KIDS Act
Known as the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, the bill mandates parental controls, restricts data usage for targeted ads aimed at minors, and requires age verification for adult websites.
It also sets regulations for online games and artificial intelligence chatbots.
“This is a major step toward a safer online world for kids, making safety the default, giving parents more tools to protect their children and teens, and holding Big Tech accountable,” the House Energy and Commerce Committee wrote in a social media post.
Lawmakers chose to exclude a controversial "duty of care" obligation that was included in the Senate's alternative bill, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).
Digital rights groups argue that the revised framework remains problematic for general internet users.
“The package of cobbled-together bills is a mess, with different age-gating schemes for different services, using different standards.
It’s a lot of complexity, and a lot of legal risk,” wrote Joe Mullin, a senior policy analyst for the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
The organization raised concerns that requiring government identification or biometric checks to verify ages could compromise anonymous speech.
Tech industry groups have also expressed opposition to the newly approved package.
